Zelmar Michelini
Encyclopedia
Zelmar Michelini was a Uruguayan reporter and politician, assassinated in Buenos Aires in 1976 as part of Operation Condor
.
Zelmar Michelini was member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1954-58, and then of the Chamber of Senators starting in 1966. he was Minister of the Industry under Óscar Gestido
's presidency (Colorado Party
), before renouncing in 1970 because of disagreements with the government's policies. At that time he left the conservative Colorado party to become a member of the Christian Democrat party of Uruguay. Alongside other left-wing parties (Communist
and Socialist Party
and others independent left-wing groups), he participated in the foundation of the Frente Amplio
coalition ("Broad Front") in 1971. Reporter in the newspaper Acción, he also founded in the 1960s the weekly Hechos. Michelini became again senator in 1971, as a member of the Frente Amplio. However, he had exiled himself to Buenos Aires after the 1973 coup and started denouncing the human rights violations committed by Bordaberry's dictatorship.
Michelini was found dead the day on 21 May 1976, the day after his 51st birthday, at 21:20 in a red Torino sedan that had been abandoned at the corner of Perito Moreno and Dellepiane in Buenos Aires. Also found in the automobile were the bodies of the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay, Héctor Gutiérrez Ruiz
(51), who had been living in exile in Buenos Aires since the 27 June 1973, military coup in his country, and of Tupamaros
militants William Whitelaw (29), and Rosario del Carmen Barredo (26), both Uruguayans and living in Buenos Aires since the military coup in Chile of 11 September 1973. All of them, abducted 18 May 1976 in Buenos Aires by a paramilitary group, had been tortured and shot; they had their hands and feet bound. Also kidnapped was Dr. Benjamín Liberof (55), a Communist physician from Argentina and a naturalized Uruguayan, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Judge Roberto Timbal put former dictator Bordaberry and former Chancellor Juan Carlos Blanco Estradé
under preventive detention on 16 November 2006, for being the organizers of these murders. Uruguayan police officer Hugo Campos
has also been suspected of being responsible of this assassination .
Operation Condor
Operation Condor , was a campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America...
.
Zelmar Michelini was member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1954-58, and then of the Chamber of Senators starting in 1966. he was Minister of the Industry under Óscar Gestido
Óscar Diego Gestido
Óscar Diego Gestido Pose was president of Uruguay in 1967.-Background:...
's presidency (Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
), before renouncing in 1970 because of disagreements with the government's policies. At that time he left the conservative Colorado party to become a member of the Christian Democrat party of Uruguay. Alongside other left-wing parties (Communist
Communist Party of Uruguay
The Communist Party of Uruguay is a communist political party in Uruguay, created on September 21, 1920. It is a member organisation of the ruling Broad Front.The current PCU secretary-general is ....
and Socialist Party
Socialist Party of Uruguay
The Socialist Party of Uruguay is an Uruguayan political party founded in 1910. Its main leader and spokesman was Dr Emilio Frugoni, the most prominent advocate of socialist ideas in Uruguay....
and others independent left-wing groups), he participated in the foundation of the Frente Amplio
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
coalition ("Broad Front") in 1971. Reporter in the newspaper Acción, he also founded in the 1960s the weekly Hechos. Michelini became again senator in 1971, as a member of the Frente Amplio. However, he had exiled himself to Buenos Aires after the 1973 coup and started denouncing the human rights violations committed by Bordaberry's dictatorship.
Michelini was found dead the day on 21 May 1976, the day after his 51st birthday, at 21:20 in a red Torino sedan that had been abandoned at the corner of Perito Moreno and Dellepiane in Buenos Aires. Also found in the automobile were the bodies of the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay, Héctor Gutiérrez Ruiz
Héctor Gutiérrez Ruiz
Héctor Gutiérrez Ruiz was a Uruguayan political figure, who died by assassination in the framework of Operation Condor. He arried with Matilde Rodriguez Larreta , had 5 children: Mark, John Paul, Magdalena, Facundo and Matthew.-Background and political role:He served as a Uruguayan deputy, and was...
(51), who had been living in exile in Buenos Aires since the 27 June 1973, military coup in his country, and of Tupamaros
Tupamaros
Tupamaros, also known as the MLN-T , was an urban guerrilla organization in Uruguay in the 1960s and 1970s. The MLN-T is inextricably linked to its most important leader, Raúl Sendic, and his brand of social politics...
militants William Whitelaw (29), and Rosario del Carmen Barredo (26), both Uruguayans and living in Buenos Aires since the military coup in Chile of 11 September 1973. All of them, abducted 18 May 1976 in Buenos Aires by a paramilitary group, had been tortured and shot; they had their hands and feet bound. Also kidnapped was Dr. Benjamín Liberof (55), a Communist physician from Argentina and a naturalized Uruguayan, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Judge Roberto Timbal put former dictator Bordaberry and former Chancellor Juan Carlos Blanco Estradé
Juan Carlos Blanco Estradé
Juan Carlos Blanco Estradé is a Uruguayan political figure.-Background:He comes from a distinguished Uruguayan political family. His father Daniel Blanco Acevedo was a Deputy representing Montevideo in the 1940s and 1950s. His grandfather Juan Carlos Blanco Fernández was himself Uruguayan Foreign...
under preventive detention on 16 November 2006, for being the organizers of these murders. Uruguayan police officer Hugo Campos
Hugo Campos Hermida
Hugo Campos Hermida was a Uruguayan police officer.-Background:Hermida also received training in the United States, including from the Drug Enforcement Administration.-Significant roles:...
has also been suspected of being responsible of this assassination .
Sources
See also
- Operation CondorOperation CondorOperation Condor , was a campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America...
- List of Uruguayan political families